Timber Framing

Very nifty. I am always impressed by the work of really skilled framers.

I did about half of the frame on my house as a timber frame (everything except exterior and partition walls, which were stick built. I really enjoyed doing that work. Just as I am in awe of our forerunners who routinely plowed down more land in a day than I can manage in a week, I am in awe of those who routinely put up beautiful and enduring structures using only hand tools.

I made my frame out of local hemlock. Spitting wet and heavy as lead!

Since you mentioned timber frame economics, I’d like to add another note. I have two books on timber framing, both by Tedd Benson, in my library. The first I loved from the start. Written in 1978, it is brimming with idealistic back-to-the-lander fervor, with much wordage about the clarity and honesty of good work done by hand, and a strong message that by adhering to good design principles and doing much work yourself, a timber frame house need be no more expensive than a conventional one.

Benson’s next book on timber framing, written in the mid 90’s, depressed the hell out of me. Gone were the pen-and-ink and b + w photos of the original–this time it was nice and glossy, with many of the examples portrayed being (in my view) extremely lavish homes. Also gone is the back-to-the-lander sentiment, as well as any realistic expectation that someone who wants to live in a timber-framed house might have any real hands-on involvement in its construction.

The gist of the first book is, “here is how to build your timber frame house.” The gist of the second is, “here is an idea of the beautiful timber frame house that your timber frame contractor can build for you.” The intervening 15 years saw an upscaling of the framer’s art, coinciding with a general increase in new construction costs across the board.

I find the idea that beauty belongs only to the rich very depressing. This was part of the reason why I got out of timber/woodworking entirely and into farming instead. At least with farming, there is a possibility that someone with economic means similar to my own might buy my products. But timber frame houses are part of a world that belongs to my betters.

Which is bizarre. All this timber, all around us (at least here in Vermont) yet no feasible way to convert that timber into beautiful, durable, affordable housing.

@goodcompanion 9591 wrote:

Very nifty. I am always impressed by the work of really skilled framers.

I did about half of the frame on my house as a timber frame (everything except exterior and partition walls, which were stick built. I really enjoyed doing that work. Just as I am in awe of our forerunners who routinely plowed down more land in a day than I can manage in a week, I am in awe of those who routinely put up beautiful and enduring structures using only hand tools.

I made my frame out of local hemlock. Spitting wet and heavy as lead!

Since you mentioned timber frame economics, I’d like to add another note. I have two books on timber framing, both by Tedd Benson, in my library. The first I loved from the start. Written in 1978, it is brimming with idealistic back-to-the-lander fervor, with much wordage about the clarity and honesty of good work done by hand, and a strong message that by adhering to good design principles and doing much work yourself, a timber frame house need be no more expensive than a conventional one.

Benson’s next book on timber framing, written in the mid 90’s, depressed the hell out of me. Gone were the pen-and-ink and b + w photos of the original–this time it was nice and glossy, with many of the examples portrayed being (in my view) extremely lavish homes. Also gone is the back-to-the-lander sentiment, as well as any realistic expectation that someone who wants to live in a timber-framed house might have any real hands-on involvement in its construction.

The gist of the first book is, “here is how to build your timber frame house.” The gist of the second is, “here is an idea of the beautiful timber frame house that your timber frame contractor can build for you.” The intervening 15 years saw an upscaling of the framer’s art, coinciding with a general increase in new construction costs across the board.

I find the idea that beauty belongs only to the rich very depressing. This was part of the reason why I got out of timber/woodworking entirely and into farming instead. At least with farming, there is a possibility that someone with economic means similar to my own might buy my products. But timber frame houses are part of a world that belongs to my betters.

Which is bizarre. All this timber, all around us (at least here in Vermont) yet no feasible way to convert that timber into beautiful, durable, affordable housing.

Erik, I know what you mean and I don’t disagree with what you are saying in anyway. I know several people, including a brother-in-law that have gone into specialty woodworking, cabinet making, door and sash work, creative design etc, etc with the idea that they could bring beauty and an artistic approach to living spaces of common people. Without fail the comments from the consuming public went something like this; “I love your (cabinets, windows, whatever) and I would really like to include them in my home, BUT I can buy them so much cheaper at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Sutherland’s, McCoy’s, etc, etc.

You know, and I know, that what they are doing is like comparing apples to basketballs. Still it is very difficult for the average person to appreciate what goes into a custom made product.

I am not that way, because about 25 years ago we gutted a then 65 year old home and replaced virtually everything; plumbing, wiring, bathrooms, kitchen, the whole deal. We insulated up to the limits of what a structure that old can be insulated. We used double insulated windows where possible. I built the cabinets myself and did most of all of the other work myself as well. We could have easily had a custom built home constructed on that site for way less money than we spent on rescuing what was there. The only upside is that we started a trend in our neighborhood and virtually all of the older homes in the area have since undergone extensive makeovers that have kept them from meeting the wrecking ball. Our reward for all of this industry? Our taxes have increased almost 4-fold in the last 20 years! Now we almost can’t afford to live there anymore! When we retire we will no doubt have to move to another area because the taxes have gotten so high. Sad.

While I know what goes into it, most people are so far removed from any craftsmanship that their only frame of reference is what can be bought out of a big box store. If their only criteria is money, the craftsman loses NEARLY everytime unless the prospective customer has deep pockets or is somehow motivated beyond the financial aspect.

I have attached a few pics of the house we built. Every stick in the house cane to the site with horse power right from my own wood land. I hand cut every joint. I chose log and post and beam purely for functionality. There is in my mind very little reason to build a stick frame structure. Far too restrictive from the very beginning.

I built the entire frame before I made commitments to style and placement for any windows, doors, and interior walls. And as far as cost, using only my own materials, obviously costs were lower than if I had purchased it, but in terms of lumber utilization and structural integrity for the amount of lumber used, P&B is superior.

Also with my octagon P&B was far better way to tie the structure together.

Oh yeah, there is definitely an aesthetic value as well, and the listers charge my more because I live in a log home, never mind that I designed and built the whole thing myself, and there is very little about this home that would attract the normal home buyer.

And. we have a Wood Mizer LT15 that we bought for the house project. It was paid for just with the house, and I use it regularly for more current work. Just sawed out a small P&B for the White River Partnership, 12 X 16 to be raffled off for a fund raiser.

Carl

Hey Jason, hows the sound in that little stage. I’ve always been told when it comes to sound that “wood is good.” Most of out little fiddle stages round here are hemlock and metal roofing.

Who’s Floyd?

Neal Maine Mandolin

thanks for the helpful information ..

______________
log home builders

QUOTE from the first thread, “Maybe this will lead to a thread about locally produced building materials and other styles of building.”

After many years of apprenticing for others and then becoming self employed, we have adapted our construction methods over the years to deal directly with the very issues we were problem solving/remediating on many jobs. Some of those being rot, poor efficiency, safety, fire attenuancy, healthy indoor air quality.
So while I love working with wood, I started having real problems remediating rot with more organic materials. I began having conflicts when installing a $15,000 stair/handrail package on a home that costs a fortune to heat and cool. Living through 3 hurricanes in Florida made us aware of the opportunity costs lost in a community when structures are decimated. Like seeing firemen literally crying when their firehouse was demolished on their rescue equipment limiting their ability to respond to hurricane survivors.
So carpentry in fact being problem solving, we started looking at alternative building options, including upgraded stick frame, timberframe, SIPS, straw bale, rammed earth to name a few. We have settled on ICF’s, Insulating Concrete Forms as being the most proactive that we can find. When I say proactive, I mean that it has to be affordable for the working person, promote a healthy indoor environment, sustainable- through longevity, durability, and low maintenance- readily available and versatile for many different applications. So we use EPS (ahem, yes, petroleum based) and concrete (ahem, yes, high CO2 emmisions to create portland cement) to create viable structures. I believe that using these elements in an application which has no expiration date is still very responsible. (I rarely use the “green” word as there are so many greeniacs these days and its now so watered down, like organic…)
I encourage consumers to use as much “aesthetic” lumber as possible, leave the structure to inorganics. By following this method, one can now make use of beams that have excellent aesthetic value but little structural value.
For instance a home we assisted with in Jackson Hole this spring will look like a timberframe in all aspects, but the shell of the home is actually superinsulated concrete;ICF. Reportedly, the GC said that the timber package was largely paid for in savings by being able to use non structural beams and timbers…
It feels great to build schools that heat and cool 7 times cheaper than with concrete block, while providing a safer and healthier environment for children.
It feels great to work with the horses in our ICF shop while the Wyoming wind is howling outside too…
It feels great to build structures that may be gutted and remodeled countless times as they have done in Europe with their inorganice buildings. Our homes, should we choose to live in them long term, now become heirlooms, instead of money pits after 40 years.

As always, we just encourage the consumer to review their building options as they would a big screen tv or a truck, and make a best decision for themselves.
Enough of my shameless self promotion, believe it or not, I’m actually on this forum to learn so I can get out of construction!
And in my defense I am not trying to sell you anything, we are a 90% labor only company, which makes this “technology” available to the working class. Thanks again Henry Ford! Am I allowed to say that on a horse forum???

Kevin

I live in a small timber framed cape that was built around 1840. Still got bark on the half-sawed floor timbers. Lets of work added or replaced in that time for sure. Summer kitchen now our bedroom, old indoor-outhouse the closet but it still goes and the homes healing spirit is felt by most who visit.
That said the old blacksmith shop I use as a hovel is falling down and I will use concrete to get the stalls under ground 3/4 the way around and hopefully have funds for Jason Glick to to a timber frame on top with pine I harvested with Rusty.
I drive an old Ford to the jobs also. Use the ’62 Mack to stack wood. All this only for perspective.
Interesting thread and a great Thanksgiving for all this and more.
jimbojim